What is HughesNet Fusion?

Where and when is HughesNet Fusion Available?

HughesNet Fusion plans are available in select areas of the continental US. That means that almost everyone in contiguous 48 states can sign up for the service. However there are some exceptions due to signal strength that have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

For example, if you live in a cozy cabin located in a deep, south-facing canyon, you might have a great signal from an orbiting satellite, but be completely blocked from wireless networks. These exceptions are rare, but they do happen. If you’re not sure if you’re in an area where HughesNet Fusion is available, you can find out here .

HughesNet Fusion Plans and Pricing

HughesNet offers two Fusion plans, one with 100GB of data and another with 200GB. The Fusion 100GB plan has a download speed of  25Mbps. The 200Gb plan has double to the data and double the download speed. The satellite-only plans have download speeds of 15 and 50 Mbps. The amount of data you need in a given month is a big consideration when choosing a plan and whether or not you want Fusion for low-latency data.

Why create a hybrid satellite network like HughesNet Fusion?

Multitransport internet connections like HughesNet Fusion aren’t anything new—businesses have long relied on these kinds of hybrid networks to avoid service interruptions.

HughesNet Fusion takes these proven technologies and uses them to address the problems that residential satellite internet customers face, especially latency. Latency is the time it takes for a signal to travel from your computer to a remote server and back, and it’s very important in real-time activities like games, livestreaming, and video chat. While issues like download speed and reliability could be improved by more satellites or better technology, latency is caused by the physical distance the signal must travel, making it an inevitable part of using geostationary (GSO) satellites.

One solution to this problem, used by providers like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, is to use low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. By simply moving the satellites closer to Earth, latency can be reduced to a fraction of what it would be in geostationary orbit. The downside is that instead of one or two satellites servicing an entire continent, these systems require thousands of satellites working in a complex constellation.

HughesNet Fusion deals with latency by making use of terrestrial wireless networks for latency-sensitive data. This means that if you make a Zoom call or turn on a Twitch stream, your HughesNet equipment will switch over to a wireless connection in order to deliver that data to your device without the lag you’d get using your satellite connection.

Like LEO satellites, hybrid satellite internet like HughesNet Fusion could be a game changer for rural communities without access to cable or fiber internet.

HughesNet Fusion vs Starlink

Hybrid satellite and LEO satellites address the same problem, why choose something like HughesNet Fusion over Starlink? There are three main arguments in favor of hybrid satellite:

• Lower cost
• Proven Technologies
• More reliable connection

HughesNet Fusion vs. Starlink price comparison

One of the most common arguments for HughesNet fusion is the lower cost when compared to services like Starlink. HughesNet has always been one of the more affordable satellite options, directed toward underserved rural communities. Starlink, by contrast, has primarily marketed itself toward technophiles looking to be on the bleeding edge of internet technology—an attitude that is reflected in its much more complicated solution to the same technical problem.

Despite its different approach, the claim that HughesNet fusion is the affordable alternative to Starlink is somewhat dubious. With the cheapest Fusion plan starting at $74.99 and moving up to $99.99 after six months, you’re only saving about ten bucks a month in the long run compared to Starlink. Once you add in equipment rental and additional price points, HughesNet Fusion and Starlink seem pretty comparable on price.

There are still some important differences between the two in terms of pricing. For example, HughesNet’s monthly equipment rental fee for its Fusion equipment is probably a lot easier for many households to deal with than Starlink’s massive upfront equipment cost, plus the promotional discount makes it even easier to get started. Still, if saving money is your primary motivation for getting HughesNet Fusion, we don’t think that’s a good enough reason on its own to switch.

HughesNet Fusion uses more proven technologies

A more compelling reason to choose HughesNet Fusion over Starlink is that both GSO satellite internet and fixed wireless internet are technologies that have been around for decades, whereas LEO satellites are still pretty new to the scene.

To be fair, Starlink has managed to overcome the most daunting technological challenges to LEO satellite internet years ahead of its competitors. As a part of SpaceX, it was able to rapidly build its satellite constellation from its two initial test satellites in 2018 to 3,232 operating satellites as of November 2022.¹ Despite its successes, Starlink faces problems as its network performance continues to drop—an issue that ultimately forced the company to abandon the unlimited data policy that it initially launched with.²

The bigger issue is less about how much Starlink knows about making good satellites and more about how much it knows about being an internet service provider. At the moment, Starlink is doing better at getting its equipment into orbit than it is at getting its equipment to customers in Massachusetts.³

HughesNet, on the other hand, has been competently operating a globe-spanning digital communications network for 50 years. HughesNet Fusion’s nationwide rollout is scheduled to be complete in just a few months, at which time people who signed up for Starlink this summer will likely still be waiting for their dish to arrive.

HughesNet Fusion provides a more reliable connection than Starlink

A final advantage of HughesNet Fusion’s hybrid approach is that your connection has built in redundancy to ensure a reliable online experience. All wireless communication is vulnerable to interference from weather, and satellite doubly so. Even if it’s clear skies on your end, heavy rain at the satellite ground station could still interrupt your connection.

With a system like HughesNet Fusion, the wireless network can compensate for interference in your satellite connection and vice versa. This is still not as reliable as a wired connection like fiber, but it’s definitely one of the best defenses against service interruption you can get with wireless internet.

HughesNet Fusion vs 4G home internet

Since the wireless half of HughesNet fusion brings so much to the party, why not just go with a simple (and cheaper) 4G LTE home internet plan? Turns out there are still two good arguments for HughesNet Fusion:

• Wider availability
• More reliable connection

HughesNet Fusion offers wider availability

The biggest selling point that satellite internet has over other types of wireless networks is that although technologies like 4G are widespread, there are still underserved areas where satellite is the only option. If you’re using a hybrid satellite/wireless service, why not just switch to 4G?

A subtle but important difference between mobile 4G and home 4G is that just because a provider offers cell service in an area doesn’t mean that you can get home internet from the same provider. The only reason providers can offer home 4G with faster speeds and lower monthly cost than their own mobile plans is because they only offer home 4G in areas where their networks have bandwidth to spare. While your phone might still get adequate service on the edges of your provider’s network, that signal isn’t strong enough to provide home internet.

Unlike a traditional wireless network, HughesNet Fusion doesn’t need to rely on its wireless half for 100% of its bandwidth. That means that it can make use of the weaker signals that aren’t strong enough to deliver a home internet connection on their own. By partnering with multiple wireless providers, HughesNet anticipates that it will be able to offer HughesNet fusion to nearly all of its customers in the continental US, even in remote locations.

HughesNet Fusion is more reliable than 4G internet

HughesNet Fusion’s built-in backup gives it an advantage over other wireless plans when it comes to reliability. 4G networks are still fairly reliable and aren’t as vulnerable to interruption as satellite networks, but having a backup with the HughesNet Fusion network  is still helpful, especially if you work from home.

HughesNet Fusion vs Viasat and HughesNet satellite-only

Current HughesNet customers who upgrade to HughesNet will be sent a second router that plugs into their current HughesNet router. Unlike your main router which has to be plugged into the outdoor satellite dish, the router for your wireless connection attaches to a smaller indoor antenna that can be placed near a window.

Current customers can install this new equipment themselves. For new HughesNet customers, installation of this new equipment comes included in your normal HughesNet installation.

Fusion plans have a higher monthly cost than standard HughesNet plans, starting at $99. The second router also comes with an additional equipment rental fee, so these recurring monthly costs add up.

Even though your data comes through two separate networks, the way you manage your data doesn’t change. Data is still deducted from your monthly quota, regardless of whether it comes by way of satellite or cell tower. Bonus Zone data, data tokens, and download speed are unaffected by the change. The only difference in your monthly experience is the lower latency, the increased reliability, and, of course, the change to your monthly bill.

Although HughesNet Fusion provides a smoother, snappier online experience by lowering latency, this does not change your actual download speed. This means that for those in rural areas who want a faster connection, Viasat might be a better option. Just be aware that although Viasat is faster, it still comes with the lag caused by an incredibly high latency satellite connection.

The bottom line

HughesNet Fusion is the satellite provider’s answer to LEO satellites like Starlink. Although there’s nothing particularly new about the technology it uses, Fusion seems to be a practical alternative to this new generation of satellites. It’s a pricey upgrade, but well worth it for those in rural areas who want a more reliable internet experience.

HughesNet Fusion FAQs